12 best Christmas walks across the UK to do with your family

If you’re crammed in your lounge with your family, Christmas dinner has been had, presents have been opened, and festive drinks have been drunk, you might be developing a little bit of cabin fever. 

Luckily, there are plenty of options across the UK for you to escape with (or from) your wonderful family over Christmas and enjoy a walk.

Public transport might be limited on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, but there is lots to do locally to get out and about. 

For those that have time off between December 27 and 30, also known as Twixmas, going for a hearty walk to blow away the cobwebs is always a good idea.

From London to Edinburgh and Cornwall to Cambridgeshire, here are the best Christmas walks.

Little Venice – London

The first London walk you could wander is a charming canal stroll between Little Venice and Camden. 

Starting from Jubilee Greenway you can walk along Regents Canal, peeking in at the houseboats moored alongside it and enjoying the ducks and geese that drift down it.

There’s plenty of greenery and the walk is calm and flat – perfect for digesting a big Christmas lunch. 

Christmas is also the perfect time to take a walk along the Southbank without hordes of tourists crowding your way.

You’ll have plenty of room to take in the sights of Big Ben and the houses of Parliament which are usually packed with people snapping pictures.

From here you can amble along the river, past the London Eye and eventually end up in Borough Market.

Gunwalloe Little Legs – Cornwall

It’s not just London that has great walks though – all across the UK there’s fabulous countryside to explore. If you’re celebrating further afield in Cornwall, why not take the little ones out to stretch their legs on the Gunwalloe Little Legs walk.

This short walk takes you past two rugged coves, impressive views and a mediaeval church, with the option for hot drinks and ice cream available at the kiosk.

Samuel Pepys walk – London

If you don’t want to walk under your own steam, you can also follow in the footsteps of the great Samuel Pepys, known for his diaries of the Great Fire of London in 1666.

This guided walk begins at 11am on Christmas Morning under the Trafalgar Square’s great Christmas tree, before setting off on Pepys route with the help of a tour guide. You can book your place at walks.com. 

Plas Newydd – Wales

If you’re in Wales, you could wander around the grounds at Plas Newydd, which is perfect for all ages. Grown-ups can enjoy the backdrop of Snowdonia and the Menai Strait, and for the little ones there’s plenty along the way, including the treehouse and adventure playground. It’s only a mile, but if you’re full of Christmas lunch then that’s probably long enough.

Giants Causeway – Northern Ireland

For a Christmas walk with a real difference why not visit the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland?

There are views of the famous stones along the way and on most days you can see Scotland and the Inishowen Peninsula. Part of this tranquil walk follows the route of the Bushmills Heritage Railway and there are significant numbers of breeding skylarks, stonechats, linnets and the occasional chough to spot – perfect for the wildlife lovers in your family.

Charles Dickens Walk – London

Another author-inspired walk is the Charles Dickens Walk, beginning at Dicken’s old address of 48 Doughty St where he lived between 1837 to 1839.

The address is now a museum, but as it will be closed on Christmas, that’s a landmark for another time.

From here, you can wander past Gray’s Inn, where Dickens worked as a clerk and then past Saffron Hill and St Paul’s ending at Borough. 

Box Hill – Surrey

On the outskirts of London is the beautiful Surrey which boasts some beautiful walks round Box Hill. From the natural play trail that’s perfect for kids through to the more challenging nine mile Leith Hill Greenway Walk. There’s even a series of podcasts that can guide you on your wander – nin case you want to escape your family altogether! They can be accessed here.

Buckland Abbey, Devon

Families can embrace the chilly days with a walk around this beautiful country estate. It boasts beautiful ponds, ancient woods as well as sheep and cattle. You may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of deer, kingfishers or one of the many other species that have made their home in this special place.

Arthur’s Seat – Edinburgh

For a slightly more stenuous walk, why not climb Arthurs Seat? It recently took 15th place in a rundown by Time Out of ‘Natural Wonders and Attractions in the UK Right Now’. It’s the highest of those that make up Holyrood Park and is actually an ancient volcano that geologists think erupted around 340 million years ago. However, it has long since become extinct, so there’s no need to worry on your steep wander up to get the best views of Edinburgh.

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire

This six-mile circular walk along stretches of Clumber Lake, taking in Hardwick village, wooded areas and open views of the parkland with its striking temples and bridges. It’s perfect for a slow walk through the beautiful park to digest your lunch and is an easy one to take with childrn or older people as its not very strenuous and has well maintained paths.

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire

With views across the Cotswold hills and the Bristol Channel, Dyrham Park is the perfect place to enjoy sweeping views across stunning countryside.  The Prospect Walk is one of the best the park has to offer and will guide you to the best viewpoints around the parkland, before finishing at the baroque splendour of the house’s East Front.

Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire

This stunnming estate has a gorgeous off road circular route aroud the estate which is multi-use. That means if your family faqncies a Christmas bike ride insteadof a ramble, this is the perfect track for you – just remember to share the space. 

The trail is 5.5 miles, or 8.5 kilometres long and is great for families looking for an easy, safe route that can get them active and enjoying time outside together.